Two Americans trapped in Denmark on Spring Break from hell after being thrown in jail for canceling an Uber
Two American college students have been released from a Danish jail nearly two weeks after their Spring Break trip to Copenhagen took a dramatic turn for the worse.
Owen Ray, a 19-year-old student at Miami University in Ohio, and his friend - who has not been identified - were taken into custody at Copenhagen Airport on April 1 following an altercation with an Uber driver the night before.
The teenaged student, a Chicago native, said he and a friend were in an Uber on March 31 when they realized they had entered the wrong address for their destination.
When the boys realized their error, they asked the rideshare driver to take them to another address, but he allegedly refused to do so, Ray told ABCNews.
That's when the alleged altercation broke out, according to Jordan Finfer, a US-based attorney representing Ray's family.
Ray said he and his unnamed friend then decided to cancel their Uber and left the vehicle.
Then, after they walked a few blocks, the Uber driver pulled up, got out of the car and 'started yelling at us, thinking he hadn't been paid for the Uber, but in fact, he had been paid for the Uber,' Ray said.
Ray, the friend and the Uber driver eventually got out of the car, before the infuriated driver allegedly kicked Ray in the groin, Finfer, said of Ray's account of the incident.
In response to the low-blow, Ray said he then shoved the driver, causing him to fall before the pair of college students fled the scene, Finfer told the outlet.
Owen Ray, a 19-year-old student at Miami University in Ohio, and his unnamed friend, were taken into custody at Copenhagen Airport on April 1 following an alleged altercation with an Uber driver the night before
The teenaged student, a Chicago native, said he and a friend were in an Uber on March 31 when they realized they had entered the wrong address for their destination. Pictured: Owen Ray (center right) with friends in Copenhagen, Denmark
'He then got in our faces and was saying, 'I'm gonna call 10 guys,'' Ray said, recounting the incident to Good Morning America on Monday.
'We were both just very shocked about the fact that we were being arrested over this incident,' Ray added. 'We had done nothing wrong.'
The next day, as they were trying to return home, the two students were detained at Copenhagen Airport.
Local police deemed the boys 'flight risks,' claiming they were planning to run from the incident, Finfer recalled.
Copenhagen police eventually charged the two students with common assault.
However, after their shock arrest, Ray and his unnamed friend believed they would be able to explain what had happened to a judge - arguing they had done nothing wrong and would be released.
'But then we went to the judge, and we were actually told that we would be imprisoned in a Danish prison for 10 days,' the student said.
Ray said he was unable to make a phone call for the first 36 hours of his detainment, adding that he was 'worried' his parents had no idea where he was.
'I was initially very worried about making sure that I could get in contact,' he said.
Eventually, the Miami University student was able to text his mother from a court phone.
His mother, Sara Buchen-Ray, then flew to Denmark to help support her troubled son.
The boys were released from the Copenhagen jail on Monday, police confirmed to ABC News, however, Ray - and his friend - remain in Denmark, with Ray's family saying that Danish authorities are holding their passports
Ray's mother, Sara Buchen-Ray, then flew to Denmark to help support her troubled son. Pictured: Owen Ray hugs his mother Sara Buchen-Ray outside the Danish jail
'I was very relieved to have heard that she was able to do that, and thankful that she was able to,' Ray said. 'I'm very thankful to my family and everyone else who's been supporting me throughout this situation.'
The boys were released from the Copenhagen jail on Monday, police confirmed to ABCNews, however, Ray - and his friend - remain in Denmark, with Ray's family saying that Danish authorities are holding their passports.
'We are relieved that Owen has been released from a Danish prison following the unprovoked assault he and his friend suffered at the hands of an Uber driver on March 31,' his parents, Andy Ray and Sara Buchen-Ray, said in a statement.
'The facts make clear that Owen is the victim in this case, and we urge Danish officials to allow him to return home to the United States without delay.'
Andy and Sara Buchen-Ray said their son and his friend 'did nothing to instigate the attack.'
'We urge the Danish authorities to recognize Owen's innocence and release him immediately,' they said. 'Our family is heartbroken, and we want our son home to celebrate Easter with us this week.'
The teen he has to check in with police daily until they get an update on the case.
He added he believes they are waiting for either the investigating authorities to drop the case or for a trial date to be set.
The teen said Danish authorities are holding their passports and that they have to check in with police daily until they get an update on the case
'I just hope that Denmark and the legal authorities here are able to - and the US government can help us and do what they can to help us be released by Easter, so I can be home with my family,' Ray said.
'I think the best case would be for the Danish police and the prosecutor to drop the case at this point, because we're completely innocent, and for them to return us our passports and allow us to head back to the United States,' he said.
A spokesperson for the popular rideshare company said the company considers each customer's safety a 'a top priority' while emphasizing that they take reports of violence 'very seriously.'
The Uber spokesperson added that any additional questions regarding the ongoing investigation should be directed to the Danish police, according to a statement provided to ABC News on Sunday.
The US State Department also provided a statement on Sunday saying, 'We are aware of media reports of two US citizens detained in Denmark. Staff at our embassy in Copenhagen are providing consular assistance.'
The Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens abroad,' it continued. 'Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.'
